“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”
As I watched the video of Obama acceptance speech from Chicago, I came to find out that after years in ruin, finally, America has something to be proud of. As tears dropped from those who witnessed the speech directly from Grant Park, hundred of thousands across the continents celebrate what a hope that democracy could bring to the future. For a man whose skin was colored with dark pigment, who has Kenyan blood running through his vein, and for a man who spend 4 years of his childhood in Jakarta … what has came tonight is much much “larger than his life”.
“This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change.”
Months after the great olympic celebration, I touched down again to China mainland, the first time on this year. As usual, the journey passed by Hong Kong, a former British occupied land turned into a special administration region under Beijing’s policy of “one country, two systems”. Located on the China’s south coast on China Pearl River Delta, the cantonese-dominated island has established itself as a hub for transportation, financial capitals, culture as well as shopping.
In Kowloon downtown, as far as eye can see, it is a mixture of shopping malls, traffic, and human population. End of the day, the crowds simply turned me down and I was bringing back nothing but “street photographs”. As Mastercard said in its ads: “There are some things money can’t buy”.
The tagline above has decorated the city of Yogyakarta for years, simply emphasizing its image as a city of peace and harmony. Let’s the fact speaks for itself but little that I know after leaving this city almost ten years ago. Famous for its status as students’ destination, it is surrounded by various places of interests starting from Borobudur Temple in the north-west, Mount Merapi in the north, the shore of South Java Sea in the south, and Prambanan Temple within one hours drive to the east.
Within the past one week, I spend most times driving my mom’s Toyota Rush with my girlfriend by my side. We went around looking for a good spot for model-shooting, until finally we ended up our one week togetherness with a disappointment, we need more holidays!
Wisemen said that home is where our heart is. For me, home is where my heart takes me to.
A celebration is going to take place in this weekend, the first Formula 1 race to be held under the moon light (with the help of 1500 lamps with thousands lux each). At I wrote now, hundreds of officials from various racing teams are descending to the scene to familiarise with the grounds; while some workers are still doing their final touch-up. Far behind the scene, major finance firms and banks are spoiling their big clients and executives with 1st class treatments: including free F1 tickets, VIP accomodations and transports. Within a single blink of a weekend, millions dollars worth of money are pouring down into the Singapore street market. History is right in the making; and a new champion will emerge.
Event like this will normally get my camera and lenses on a standby mode with hope of getting “photographer pass”, but not this time. “Nature call” has led me to give this race simply a miss. I’m going back home … (bigger event awaits me back there)
It was late saturday night and the whole guests were hold on to the “crème de la crème” of the yearly event, the DOOR PRIZE ! And as with the rests, I prayed quietly to Father in Heaven for the top prize, a travel voucher that is worth enough to send me and my grilfriend out for another honeymoon. But when my name was called, it was merely ticket voucher to fly over Singapore by a gigantic wheel. Cursed on me … I had no complaint but to enjoy the flying capsule all by myself (something that I have to share with dozens people during my ride on the London Eye).
For 30 minutes long, it was me up in the middle of the air, looking down to the earth with no one to talk to but my camera … and a glass of cocktail.
Seven years has passed since two planes brought down the twin WTC towers into rubbles, in an event that turns the whole world upside down. And what hapenned on the next following years were really beyond imagination. Taleban had lost power in Afghanistan, while democracy had taken the power from Saddam’s Bath party. On the other hand, security measures had pushed aviation cost to a disturbing level, in addition of the skyrocketing of oil price. In fact, many more has changed since, except the man who sits inside the Oval Office of The White House.
Four years has passed since I visited the ground zero only to witness the major construction works. Now, the place has evolved to a museum & memorial in remembrance of those who lost their lives.
It started terribly as I missed the flight to Melbourne, which then costed me extra bucks to change my connecting flight to Sidney. Fortunately, after a crash course in austral-english with the Virginblue operator, I managed to set my foot on the most favorite city for immigrants, a city called Sidney.
Within the next three days, I was busy shooting the opera house from various angle … trying hard to find a spot where a never-before picture has ever been taken. Truly, I ended up in vain.
When the gates of hell are opened, it is time for the spirits to descend upon the earth and to live among the believers. On the seventh month of lunar year for Taoists, strict rules has passed down to generations: no wedding allowed, no moving house allowed, not even swimming. Performances like Chinese operas and getai show bloom overnight in every street corner of Singapore to entertain the living and the dead. On the other scene, people burns incense sticks to ward off evil spirits, while food are offered to appease the hungry ghost.
During this period if you see candles and joss stick are lit around the streets, do not turn back at night when someone calls out your name.
Weekend was coming and there was nothing much to aim for until a friend called and asked me to cover a live musical concert for a local media in Jakarta. There was many talks about this concert, which is claimed as the biggest one in South East Asia. Well, the line up looked promising with some big names like Alicia Keys, Pussycat Dolls, Travis, One Republic, Jason Mraz, Simple Plan, Panic at the Studio, and so on. My reply to her is a clear crystal YESS, opportunity to be positioned under the shaking hips of Pussycat Dolls is something that no straight guys would be able to resist.
And there I goes covering Singfest 2008, squeezing to be the first inside the photographers’ pit, fighting with the rests for the best angle and the perfect shots, the most salable moment for tomorrow headlines.
And what was my rating? Travis is the most impressive with his classy performance. Alicia has great vocal and giant bodyguards, but unfortunately not my type. Rick Astley was simply forgettable, an alien out of nowhere that no one could care less. And as expected, Pussycat Dolls was the real highlight, waking up the whole crowds and the green grass of Fort Canning Park (that was the only period that my “continuous drive” mode is ON).
Spending two nights under heavy loudspeaker was enough to break my nerve and knock me down for the day after. I was really tired … and missing her.
